The latest contemporary cabinetry is a simple and sophisticated option for transforming your kitchen into a modern space. A streamlined, contemporary kitchen design, combined with integrated appliances, thoughtful lighting and a mix of levels helps to keep your room clutter-free whilst leaving you more space to relax and entertain.
How to create a modern kitchen design
GO FOR CLEAN LINES
If it’s a paired-back, linear space you’re after, then handleless cabinetry is for you. Our latest design, Linear Edge is a handleless door with a clean-lined full-width cutback for a very modern aesthetic. Its in-frame construction gives it an edge on some flat fronted designs and makes it extremely durable. In smaller kitchen spaces, the absence of handles helps to make a room feel bigger, while in a kitchen with lots of cabinetry, it prevents an overload of steel handles. If you don’t want to commit to all handleless doors then you can give a run of classic Shaker cabinets a modern edge by dressing them with sleek bar handles, adding modern built-in appliances and topping with cool composite worktops. For added contemporary chic, mix and match styles incorporating flat-fronted wall cabinets.
STAY NEAT
The key to modern design is a clean, uncluttered feel to work surfaces. While we all might want that statement – and often used – KitchenAid mixer on show, that doesn’t necessarily work for all the other kitchen paraphernalia it’s so easy to collect. Hiding kitchen clutter, particularly in open-plan kitchens is essential, so plan in plenty of storage with deep pan drawers, tambour units to keep small appliances, crockery and china out of site. Floor to ceiling handleless cupboards can hide a multitude of sins so if you have space, they’re a good investment. Remember, though, for your kitchen to work efficiently, you’ll want easy access to all these things when you do need them, so we recommend siting pan drawers by ovens, larders close to prep areas and china close to the dishwasher.
WORKTOPS
The latest composites are perfect for contemporary kitchens as their colour and any pattern are consistent and choice has grown over the past few years to include everything from pure brilliant white to zingy orange. Plain white worktops complement modern cabinetry beautifully but if you want a slightly less clinical feel then manufacturers such as Silestone and Ceasarstone are now producing man-made composites that look like natural materials. Of course, while they can look just like marble or concrete, the real benefit of these surfaces is that they are much easier to look after than natural stones, particularly very porous ones such as marble. They’re also fabulous for creating feature splashbacks – for instance bookmatching a faux marble – with less of a financial outlay than, say, Carrara.
ADDING APPLIANCES
Modern kitchens really are about clean lines, and that goes for appliances, too. If you have your heart set on a range cooker, then choose one of the more modern steel models from Mercury, Smeg or Rangemaster. Integrate as many appliances as you can and if possible, place items such as washing machines and tumble dryers in utility rooms. Keep sightlines clear by installing simple below cabinet, in-ceiling or pop-up extractors rather than fancy hanging pendants, keep fridges and freezers behind closed doors and invest in good-looking, hardworking built-in cooking appliances and a sleek glass zoned induction hob. Finish off with a few modern-day luxuries such as a boiling water tap offered by Quooker, pop-up power points and cool lighting.
Our expert designers are on hand to help you plan your modern or traditional kitchen design. Find your closest Harvey Jones showroom here, or call 0800 389 6938 to speak with a designer.
